ISLAMABAD, Oct 15: Marginalized and less developed areas should be given priority with special emphasis on poverty alleviation while preparing development projects, Federal Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Omar Asghar Khan said.

The minister was presiding over a meeting held to review progress of Khushhal Pakistan Programme (KPP).

He said in the new district government setup development projects were being prepared by District Nazims and District assemblies according to the requirements of the respective districts.

The projects should address needs and problems of under-developed areas like poverty, backwardness and illiteracy and schemes should include upgradation of slum areas and development of rural areas.

The KPP aims to uplift the people of disadvantaged areas at the grass-roots levels through public participation and to narrow rural/urban divide with a balanced approach in preparing the development schemes for the area.

The minister was apprised of the progress made so far under the KPP. He was told that 8,667 schemes had been completed out of 13,621 approved schemes and Rs8,667 million had so far been spent and about 300,000 job opportunities created.